Residents shouted and demanded to be allowed to speak as the nine-member Board of Education ended the meeting. As the clamor continued, the board voted to adjourn and then quickly left the stage where they were sitting in the auditorium of the Bayonne High School.

Many claimed they were blindsided and lost their opportunity to speak when the board surreptitiously switched the public speaking protocol.

Typically, Gary Maita, the board secretary, announces at the start of the meeting that all those who want to make a public comment write their names on an index card that he places at the front of the auditorium.

Last night was different.

No index cards were distributed and no announcement was made about the change, said residents. Although Maita did ask if there were any public comments before the board voted to close the meeting.

The only person to make a public comment was Alan D'Angelo, who asked the board questions about an agenda item when it was brought up.

Ava Finnerty, a longtime Bayonne teacher who retired in July after more than three decades, was one of many waving her arms in the audience and asking to speak as the board voted to adjourn the meeting.

After the board left, and as lights were being turned off, Finnerty got up on stage and announced to the three dozen or so residents still in the audience: "Something needs to happen."

"Our objective here is to have a board of education that listens to the needs of not only the teachers, but the students," Finnerty said.

Finnerty added that board is "funding all these personal interests" and "not the lifeblood of the community: the teachers. ... I wanted to tell them that they losing all these great teachers."

Kieran White, another resident, was also incensed – but not surprised.

"I've been coming to board meetings here for about a year and a half, and this is typical of how they disrespect the people that come here," White said. The board "doesn't want to sit there and listen to what people have to say."